India

Jaipur, Dec 24 (PTI) The Rajasthan government on Tuesday banned the sale of Chinese manjha, which is a plastic or synthetic string used for flying kites, officials said.

The order was issued during a meeting held by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the matter of injuries due to the use of manjha was discussed in it, they said.

Bareilly (UP), Dec 25 (PTI) A case has been registered against a policeman and two others for allegedly raping a woman in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, officials said on Wednesday.

The FIR was registered on Tuesday night on a court's direction.

Based on the complaint of a 21-year-old woman, Chief Judicial Magistrate Piyush Siddharth had on Monday directed registration of an FIR against Katai Mill police outpost in-charge Arun Kumar and two others for allegedly raping her.

Bengaluru, Dec 25 (PTI) Amid nation-wide protests over the controversial citizenship law, the first detention centre in Karnataka, reportedly meant to lodge illegal immigrants and migrants overstaying in the country, has been opened in Sondekoppa village near here.

The facility with several rooms, a kitchen and toilets has been kept ready on the directions of the government, a social welfare department official said.

However, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai objected to the term 'Detention Centre'.

Guwahati, Dec 25 (PTI) Christmas celebrations were a low-key affair in Assam amid ongoing protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act.

Despite the somber mood, midnight prayers for peace and happiness were organised across the state on Tuesday night.

Priests in various churches said that the situation and mood in the state did not enliven the spirit to celebrate the occasion with mirth and gaiety.

Gaya (Bihar), Dec 25 (PTI) The Dalai Lama on Wednesday vowed that Tibetan Buddhists will continue to fight with "the power of truth" the communist regime in China which, according to him, thrived on the "power of the gun".

The Tibetan spiritual leader made the statement at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya near here, the place where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment more than two millennia ago.

Kannur (Ker), Dec 25 (PTI) Five activists belonging to the ruling CPI(M) and Opposition Congress' youth wings, have been arrested in connection with the incidents relating to waving of black flags and attempting to block Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's car at nearby Pazhayangadi.

While three belong to the CPI(M)'s Students Federation of India (SFI), two are from the Youth Congress, police said on Wednesday.

The five have been arrested and remanded to 14 days judicial custody, they said.

Kanpur: Today is declared a holiday because of December 25. What pleasured the consumers was that the counters at the power sub-station in Jajmau remained open on the day. Though there was less number of consumers converging at the sub-station in the forenoon, the clerks at the counters looked quite generous and polite towards the electricity bill depositors. This tendency was not normally seen on regular working days.

As the year's last month was nearing the end, the department appeared to have decided to give every chance to the power consumers for depositing the power dues. 

LUCKNOW, India (Reuters) - Indian authorities stepped up security and shut down the internet in various places on Tuesday while members of the ruling party planned marches backing a new citizenship law even though nationwide protests against it are escalating.

An interior ministry official said the government expected all state security officials to be on duty on Christmas Eve and through the holiday week.

New Delhi, Dec 24 (PTI) Over 70 student and youth organisations across the country joined hands on Tuesday under an umbrella body to intensify the ongoing protest against the contentious citizenship law and the proposed nationwide NRC and updating of the National Population Register (NPR).

On New Year's Day, members of the National Young India Co-ordination and Campaign and those supporting the movement will take a pledge to save the Constitution and have also coined a slogan: "New Year's Resolution -- Defend Constitution".

Etah (UP), Dec 24 (PTI) A minor girl was allegedly raped by a teenager in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place in Sakeet village on Monday evening when the 10-year-old was taken to an agricultural field by the teenager, who allegedly raped her, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjay Kumar said.

Later, the girl returned home and informed her family members about the incident, the ASP said.